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Videos from [my] MacBook Pro sessions

Here are real-world examples of how the new MBPs perform. The purpose of the videos isn’t so much as to show how much faster (or slower) it may be compared to other systems – but to ease Apple users’ minds should they be considering an upgrade.

First I’d like to apologize for the horrible video quality. I was using an external iSight which had a hard time focusing (it would switch focus every few seconds, so I had to kill the auto-focus) The movie was captured using a small resolution setting so YouTube then blew it up… and ergo the blurriness.

Below, you will find a blow-by-blow recap of what I was doing in each video. Read More

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It’s here…

I got reprimanded by Juan last week during one of our conversations:

juanporu: bibili na dapat ako ng c2d
juanporu: kaso naubos pera ko dun sa <site we rather not mention>
nargz: “c2d”?
juanporu: core 2 duo
juanporu: you gotta be in with the linggo dude…
juanporu: you’re about to own one

Now, I am forced to “get with the linggo,” as it were – as I am now an owner of a MBP 15″ 2.33GHz C2D with 2GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, and sure, FW800 as well. That linggo-ed enough?

Kidding aside, I promised Juan a “review” of the new MBP in comparison to an old PowerBook G4 – I’ll be getting to the performance part soon enough. Meanwhile, let me focus on the aesthetics – which we know Apple fans go gaga over.

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Merom MacBook Pros are out

The Apple Core2 Duo portables have been unleashed, and so I too, will start unleashing my savings and upgrade. The pricing is very impressive since you get a considerable upgrade from the previous generation MacBook Pros for the same price.

If you’ve been holding out to get a MacBook, waiting for the “right-time” to take the plunge, I’d say now is pretty much an ok time to get one. Consider this:

Comparing the USD 1,999 models (lowest-end) 15″ MacBook Pro line, for the newer model you’d be getting:

  1. CPU base speed matching the previous top model (2.16Ghz)
  2. A newer, more efficient CPU in general (Core2 Duo/Merom)
  3. A base RAM matching the previous top model (1GB)
  4. A base HDD size that’s bigger than the previous top model (120GB)
  5. A IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 800 port, which absent from the previous line.
  6. A faster (6x) and dual-layer capable superdrive

Now I’m sure that succeeding versions will still follow the trend, but for the price, I think the models that just came out are very competitive (as compared to the value of my powerbook when it came out)

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Photobooth

A few weeks ago I was playing with Jem’s MacBook during practice. I got to play with Apple’s PhotoBooth. Here are some photos I have of myself using the built in quartz/coreimage effects.


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Oh Apple, we thought we knew ye.

I just have to rant. I know I’ve had beef about Apple with regards to some of the stuff they do/release. And those points are always wonderful sources for futher debate… especially if you start bringing in the whole fanboy culture into the fray. Make no mistake – there are people out there who are so dense, that they still see Apple as this knight in shining armor even if they’re already taking it in the ass.

This time, I just have to say I’m sorely disappointed with what Apple’s doing the past few weeks. For those who didn’t know, they are trying to claim the whole “pod” name for themselves. What does this entail? Any branding that has “pod” in it is now in danger. And as far as I know, they’ve already succeeded and are now closing in on the “podcast” monicker. While this is probably a brilliant move as far as cutthroat business is concerned, I must say my disillusionment is in full effect. I can say without a doubt that Apple has become (or is well on its way to becoming) one of the big bullies in business. An evil empire, which was previously reserved for the likes of Microsoft.

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